TONIGHT’S VISITORS Jonathon Rogers takes a look at tonight’s opposition: HEREFORD UNITED – THEN AND NOW
Hereford United was formed in 1924 following the merger of two local sides - St Martins and Rotherwas - to achieve a better standard of football in Hereford. They began in the Birmingham Combination, moving to the Birmingham and District League four years later. The club became members of the Southern League during the 1930s, and despite topping the table in the first season following World War II were demoted to second after Chelmsford City were awarded points for unplayed matches. The Bulls would remain in the league for the next 27 years, finishing runners-up on three occasions and winning the regional division in 1958- 59, the only season the league was regionalised. They also won the divisional League Cup three times. In 1966 former Leeds, Juventus and Wales international John Charles signed for Hereford and became manager after his first season which helped the club become one of the best supported teams in the non- league game. Charles left shortly before Hereford’s most famous moment, beating top-flight Newcastle United 2-1 in the FA Cup third round in 1972 thanks to goals from Ronnie Radford and Ricky George at Edgar Street. Despite being knocked out by West Ham in the next round following a replay, The Bulls went on to finish second in the Southern League and won election to the Football League for the first time in their history. Under the leadership of Colin Addison, Hereford embarked on a meteoric rise up the division, finishing runners-up in the Fourth Division in their debut season and then winning the Third Division the following campaign. The Bulls would only spend a season in the Second Division before slipping back into the Fourth Division where they would spend the next 19 years. Graham Turner arrived as manager in 1995-96 and guided his side to
the play-offs where they were ultimately defeated, before financial problems hit the club meaning their best players had to be solved and Hereford slipped out of the Football League the following season after a final-day relegation decider with Brighton and Hove Albion. Turner went on to purchase the club in 1998 and after a few seasons of struggling in the Conference three consecutive second placed finishes followed with the club losing in the play-offs the first two times, but finally earning promotion back to League Two in 2005-06 after beating Halifax Town in the final. After a year of consolidation Hereford managed to finish third in
League Two to earn a second promotion in three years, however they found League One a step too far and were relegated after a single season. Turner ended his 14 year managerial stint in April 2009 and resigned as chairman this summer to take up the reigns at the Greenhous Meadow after The Bulls finished 16th in League Two.
STAR PLAYER • ROB PURDIE
The former Bulls favourite re-united with his old midfield colleague Jamie Pitman when he arrived on loan from Oldham Athletic last month, and netted three goals in his first two games as Hereford aim to claw themselves away from the foot of League Two. Capable of playing at left back, central midfield or behind the strikers, the 28 year old began at Leicester City but never featured for The Foxes and moved to Edgar Street in July 2002. He soon became a regular in the side and helped his side gain promotion from the Conference in 2005-06. Purdie started his first season in the Football League by being given the captaincy and ended it with the Player of the Year award, however after 223 first-team games he left Herefordshire and headed to Darlington where he won another Player of the Season award in his first season. Since joining Oldham at the start of last season he has endured a miserable time and has failed to make a single appearance, so jumped at the chance to team up with Pitman once again when the opportunity came.
SHREWSBURY to LONDON - just £40 Return Travel 27 MANAGER – JAMIE PITMAN
Following in the footsteps of Scunthorpe United’s Nigel Atkins and Les Parry of Tranmere Rovers, The Bull’s physiotherapist was
temporarily handed the reigns following the dismissal of Simon Davey lat month and remains undefeated in his first seven games.
Only 34, the former Bulls midfielder first arrived at Edgar Street in 1996 from Swindon Town whom he’d made his league debut for. He was
injured for most of the following campaign which saw Hereford drop into the Conference, and after spending a season in non-league football moved to Yeovil Town in 1998. He would move on to Woking after two seasons at Huish Park and scored a goal to knock Hereford out of the FA Cup in 2000 before returning to The Bulls two years later. After helping the club to two Conference play-off defeats his final appearance for the club would be to help them win the play-off final in 2006 and regain their Football League status. After nearly 200 appearances for Hereford he left following their promotion and joined Forest Green Rovers where he spent the final two seasons of his playing career. After hanging up his boots he returned to Edgar Street for a third time as physio in August 2008, before being elevated to caretaker manager in October.
Since being given the chance to show his managerial abilities,
Pitman has led his side to three wins and four draws, including an incredible comeback to beat Northampton Town after trailing 3-0 at half- time, a 5-0 destruction of Stockport at Edgeley Park and thumping Hyde Town 5-1 in the FA Cup. With an impressive start to his managerial career, Pitman will be hoping that he will be offered the chance to take up the hotseat permanently should he guide The Bulls away from the League Two trapdoor.
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